U.S. patent number 9,554,686 [Application Number 14/035,431] was granted by the patent office on 2017-01-31 for flexible scrubbing head for a floor mop.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Electrolux Home Care Products, Inc.. The grantee listed for this patent is Electrolux Home Care Products, Inc.. Invention is credited to Craig Alan Amick, Donald Joseph Davidshofer, Saba Rizzi.
United States Patent |
9,554,686 |
Davidshofer , et
al. |
January 31, 2017 |
Flexible scrubbing head for a floor mop
Abstract
A mop having a handle and a base plate. The base plate has a
lower surface configured to lie on a surface to be cleaned, and
extends in a plane defined by a lateral direction and a
longitudinal direction that is perpendicular to the lateral
direction. The base plate is elongated in the lateral direction and
includes a rigid central region that is connected to the handle, a
flexing region, and a stepping region. The flexing region is made
with an elastomeric material, and is connected at an inboard edge
to a lateral end of the central region and extends to an outboard
edge. The stepping region is connected to the outboard edge of the
flexing region, and includes a generally flat upper surface
configured to be stepped on by a user's foot.
Inventors: |
Davidshofer; Donald Joseph
(Mount Holly, NC), Rizzi; Saba (Charlotte, NC), Amick;
Craig Alan (Davidson, NC) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Electrolux Home Care Products, Inc. |
Charlotte |
NC |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Electrolux Home Care Products,
Inc. (Charlotte, NC)
|
Family
ID: |
52689655 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/035,431 |
Filed: |
September 24, 2013 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20150082570 A1 |
Mar 26, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L
13/258 (20130101); A47L 13/225 (20130101); A47L
13/22 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47L
13/22 (20060101); A47L 13/258 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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19908259 |
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Aug 2000 |
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DE |
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0426209 |
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May 1991 |
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EP |
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0430846 |
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Jun 1991 |
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EP |
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1985221 |
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Oct 2008 |
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EP |
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2276811 |
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Oct 1994 |
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GB |
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WO9740736 |
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Nov 1997 |
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WO |
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Other References
Office Action mailed Mar. 29, 2016 for U.S. Appl. No. 14/035,472.
cited by applicant .
Notice of Allowance mailed Jun. 8, 2015 for U.S. Appl. No.
13/833,571. cited by applicant .
Office Action mailed Jan. 16, 2015 for U.S. Appl. No. 13/833,571.
cited by applicant .
Office Action mailed Mar. 10, 2015 for U.S. Appl. No. 14/043,346.
cited by applicant .
Office Action mailed Mar. 11, 2015 for U.S. Appl. No. 14/035,455.
cited by applicant .
Photographs of Dirt Devil Products publicly available before Sep.
24, 2013, 6 pages. cited by applicant .
Entire patent prosecution history of U.S. Appl. No. 13/833,571,
filed Mar. 15, 2013, entitled, "Steam Distribution Apparatus and
Methods for Steam Cleaning Devices." cited by applicant .
Entire patent prosecution history of U.S. Appl. No. 14/035,455,
filed Sep. 24, 2013, entitled, "Sliding Scrub Brush for a Floor
Mop." cited by applicant .
Entire patent prosecution history of U.S. Appl. No. 14/035,472,
filed Sep. 24, 2013, entitled, "Floor Mop With Concentrated
Cleaning Feature." cited by applicant .
Entire patent prosecution history of U.S. Appl. No. 14/043,346,
filed Oct. 1, 2013, entitled, "Floor Mop With Removable Base
Plate." cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Chin; Randall
Attorney, Agent or Firm: RatnerPrestia
Claims
We claim:
1. A mop comprising: a handle having a proximal end, a distal end
opposite the proximal end; a base plate having a lower surface
configured to lie on a surface to be cleaned, the base plate
extending in a plane defined by a lateral direction and a
longitudinal direction that is perpendicular to the lateral
direction, the base plate being elongated in the lateral direction
and comprising: a rigid central region having a first lateral end
and a second lateral end opposite the first lateral end, the rigid
central region being connected to the proximal end of the handle
between the first lateral end and the second lateral end, a first
flexing region comprising an elastomeric material, the first
flexing region being connected at an inboard edge to the first
lateral end of the rigid central region and extending in the
lateral direction away from the rigid central region to an outboard
edge, and a first stepping region connected to the outboard edge of
the first flexing region, the first stepping region comprising a
generally flat upper surface configured to be stepped on by a
user's foot; wherein the first flexing region comprises a plurality
of openings.
2. The mop of claim 1, further comprising a fluid deposition system
operatively associated with the mop and comprising: a tank
configured to hold a supply of liquid; a pump fluidly connected to
receive the liquid from the tank; a sprayer fluidly connected to
receive the liquid from the pump; and a trigger configured to
operate the pump to deposit liquid through the sprayer and onto the
surface to be cleaned.
3. The mop of claim 1, further comprising a cleaning pad located on
the lower surface of the base plate, and positioned to contact the
surface to be cleaned.
4. The mop of claim 3, wherein the cleaning pad comprises a
disposable nonwoven material or a washable pad comprising a one or
more woven layers.
5. The mop of claim 3, wherein the cleaning pad is dimensioned to
cover the entire lower surface of the base plate.
6. The mop of claim 5, wherein the lower surface of the base plate
comprises at least one first pad fastener on a lower surface of the
rigid central region and at least one second pad fastener on a
lower surface of the first stepping region.
7. The mop of claim 1, wherein the first flexing region comprises
at least one of: natural rubber, synthetic rubber, thermoplastic
elastomer, and silicone.
8. The mop of claim 1, wherein the mop further comprises a cleaning
pad located on the lower surface of the base plate, and the first
flexing region is configured to abut the cleaning pad at three or
more locations in the longitudinal direction.
9. The mop of claim 1, wherein the first flexing region comprises a
plurality of ribs having a respective opening between each adjacent
pair of ribs.
10. The mop of claim 9, wherein the plurality of ribs are parallel
to one another, and each rib extends at an angle relative to the
longitudinal direction.
11. The mop of claim 10, wherein the plurality of ribs are angled
forward in relation to a forward working direction of the mop.
12. The mop of claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the first
stepping region comprises a generally flat area having a width in
the lateral direction of at least about 30 mm.
13. The mop of claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the first
stepping region comprises a generally flat area having a length in
the longitudinal direction of at least about 30 mm.
14. The mop of claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the first
stepping region comprises an image of a foot.
15. The mop of claim 1, wherein the first stepping region comprises
a generally flat lower surface facing the surface to be
cleaned.
16. The mop of claim 1, wherein the first stepping region comprises
an elastomeric material.
17. The mop of claim 16, wherein the first stepping region
comprises the same material as the first flexing region.
18. The mop of claim 17, wherein the first stepping region is more
rigid than the first flexing region.
19. The mop of claim 1, wherein the rigid central region is
configured to rotate relative to the first flexing region about a
first longitudinal axis, and the stepping region is configured to
rotate relative to the first flexing region about a second
longitudinal axis, and wherein the first longitudinal axis is
spaced from the second longitudinal axis.
20. The mop of claim 1, wherein the base plate further comprises: a
second flexing region comprising the elastomeric material, the
second flexing region being connected at an inboard edge to the
second lateral end of the rigid central region and extending in the
lateral direction away from the rigid central region to an outboard
edge, and a second stepping region connected to the outboard edge
of the second flexing region, the second stepping region comprising
a generally flat upper surface configured to be stepped on by a
user's foot.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is related to U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 14/035,455, now abandoned; and 14/035,472, now abandoned, which
are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to floor mops, and more particularly
to floor mops having one or more flexible regions on the base
plate.
BACKGROUND
Spray Mops are simple cleaning tools that have gained favor by
consumers following a recent trend in the popularity of hard floor
surfaces (e.g., tile, wood, stone, marble, linoleum etc.) within
the housing market. Early hard floor cleaning tools typically
comprised a string mop, rag mop, or sponge mop that was used in
conjunction with a separate bucket of cleaning solution. Such
devices are still in use today, and can be effective, but they are
often considered cumbersome to use.
The foregoing mopping devices have been replaced in the marketplace
with increasing frequency by flat mops having a flat base plate
mounted to a long handle, with a removable cleaning pad attached to
the base plate. Such cleaning pads have included traditional woven
fabrics (e.g., string or a knit fabric), sponges, nonwoven fabrics
made of polymers, wood pulp, or the like, and the like. Woven and
sponge mop pads are generally considered to be reusable, whereas
nonwoven pads are often considered to be "disposable" because they
are difficult or impossible to effectively clean for multiple
reuses.
Flat mops may be used with a separate supply of cleaning fluid
(water, detergent or the like), but some are equipped as a "spray
mop" having a built-in fluid deposition system including a spray
nozzle attached either to the base plate or the handle, a vessel
filled with liquid cleaning fluid, and mechanism to control the
flow of cleaning fluid. Such mechanisms have included, among other
things, manually- and electrically-operated pumps, and
gravity-operated systems controlled by a valve. The spray frequency
and duration are controlled by the user using a hand trigger
located on or close to the handle grip. Once the vessel is filled
with the cleaning solution of choice and the cleaning pad is
installed, the user places the base plate on the target surface
(typically a floor) and energizes the spray system by squeezing the
hand trigger or other mechanism to wet the surface. Once the
surface is wetted, the user moves the spray mop pad across the wet
surface in forward/aft or left/right directions to wick up the
cleaning solution and apply a light downward force to transfer the
dirt from the floor to the (now wet) pad.
The base plate of a flat mop typically has a large surface (e.g.,
.about.400 mm wide.times..about.100 mm deep). The large surface
area provided by the base plate and underlying pad provides a large
cleaning path, which reduces the time required to clean large areas
and provides a significant transfer surface to pick up dirt and
liquid. However, the force applied by the user is spread across the
total area of the pad (e.g., .about.40,000 mm.sup.2 in the above
example), which is good for covering large areas, but hinders the
cleaning result and efficiency when attempting to clean stubborn
dirt because it is not possible to focus a large cleaning force on
strongly-adhering dirt. Ethnographic observations reveal that users
of flat mops address stubborn dirt in a variety of ways. Some users
apply more cleaning solution (which is potentially wasteful), and
others simply endure the many passes required with the cleaning pad
(which is time consuming). Other users apply a greater amount of
force to the stain using their sock-covered foot or a separate
abrasive pad. Still others attempt to apply more force by moving
one or both hands lower on the handle. In any event, these
approaches are not considered to be true solutions to the problem
of cleaning stubborn dirt, because they can be inconvenient and
inefficient to the user.
Some existing flat mop designs attempt to address the issue of
cleaning stubborn dirt by adding a scrub brush to the mop. For
example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,892,415 and 7,225,495 and U.S.
Publication No. 2012/0195674 (all of which are incorporated herein
by reference) show mops having a scrub brush mounted on the head
adjacent the sponge or cleaning pad. However, these devices all
require the user to flip the mop head to perform the scrubbing
operation, which can be an awkward and inconvenient movement.
Furthermore, the device in the aforementioned publication uses a
pivoting joint between the handle and the base plate, which may
increase the difficulty of holding the device with the scrub brush
facing towards the floor. Other devices, such as the mops shown in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,779,501 and 8,166,597, have a scrubbing region
built into the center of the base plate, which is activating by
increasing the downward force on the mop handle. With these
devices, it can be difficult or impossible to tell when the
scrubbing region is actually moved into contact with the floor,
because there is no separate control to operate it. Also, some of
these devices sacrifice a portion of the main cleaning pad to make
room for the scrubbing region.
There exists a need to provide alternative solutions to the
problems of cleaning stubborn dirt using flat mops, spray mops, and
the like.
SUMMARY
In one exemplary embodiment, there is provided a mop having a
handle and a base plate. The handle has a proximal end and a distal
end opposite the proximal end. The base plate has a lower surface
configured to lie on a surface to be cleaned. The base plate
extends in a plane defined by a lateral direction and a
longitudinal direction that is perpendicular to the lateral
direction, and is elongated in the lateral direction. The base
plate includes a rigid central region, a first flexing region, and
a first stepping region. The rigid central region has a first
lateral end and a second lateral end opposite the first lateral
end, and the rigid central region is connected to the proximal end
of the handle between the first lateral end and the second lateral
end. The first flexing region is made with an elastic material, and
is connected at an inboard edge to the first lateral end of the
rigid central region and extends in the lateral direction away from
the rigid central region to an outboard edge. The first stepping
region is connected to the outboard edge of the first flexing
region, and includes a generally flat upper surface configured to
be stepped on by a user's foot.
It will be appreciated that this Summary is not intended to limit
the claimed invention in any way.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A better understanding of the exemplary embodiments may be
understood by reference to the attached drawings, in which like
reference numbers designate like parts. The drawings are exemplary,
and not intended to limit the claims in any way.
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a spray
mop having a flexible scrubbing head.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the base plate of the embodiment of
FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a top view of one lateral end of an exemplary base plate
of a spray mop.
FIG. 4 is a top view showing the embodiment of FIG. 3 in one mode
of use.
FIG. 5 is a side view showing the embodiment of FIG. 3 in another
mode of use.
FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 3 in another
mode of use.
FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a spray mop having a
flexible scrubbing head in one mode of use.
FIG. 8 is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of a base
plate for a spray mop.
FIG. 9 is an isometric view of another alternative embodiment of a
base plate for a spray mop.
FIGS. 10A-10F are fragmented top views of alternative base plate
flexible end regions.
FIG. 11 is a front view of another exemplary base plate.
FIG. 12 is a front view of another exemplary base plate.
FIG. 13 is a fragmented top view of another embodiment of a base
plate.
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the base plate of FIG. 13.
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of
the base plate of FIG. 13.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
The inventors have developed new apparatus and methods for cleaning
stubborn dirt using a flat mop or spray mop. Non-limiting examples
of these apparatus and methods are described below. The following
embodiments generally describe the inventions in the context of a
spray mop, but it will be readily apparent that these embodiments
are also applicable to flat mops that do not have a separate liquid
depositing system.
FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a spray mop 100 that
is adapted for quick and convenient cleaning of stubborn dirt. As
used herein, the term "dirt" is intended to have its broad
colloquial meaning, and includes any substance on a surface that is
desired to be removed therefrom. This term includes, without
limitation, soil, food, liquids, or other substances that are on or
adhering to the surface.
The exemplary spray mop 100 includes a base plate 102 to which a
handle 104 is attached. The handle 104 is attached at a proximal
(lower) end to the base plate 102, and may include a first grip 106
at a distal (upper) end. The first grip 106 may be connected to the
handle as an integrally-molded part, or as separate piece that is
attached at the distal end of the handle 104. The handle 104 also
may include a second grip 108 at a location between the proximal
and distal ends of the handle 104. The grips 106, 108 may be
contoured or have gripping material (e.g., overmolded rubber, etc.)
to facilitate the user's operation of the mop 100.
The handle 104 is connected to a top side of the base plate 102 via
a joint 110. The joint 110 may be a rigid connection, but more
preferably is a pivot joint. A pivot joint may be a single-axis
pivot that allows the base plate 102 and handle 104 to rotate
relative to one another about a single axis, or a multiple-axis
pivot that allows the base plate 102 and handle 104 to rotate
relative to one another about multiple (e.g., two) axes. Such pivot
joints are known in the art, and an example of a suitable pivot
joint is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,141, which is incorporated
herein by reference.
The handle 104 may include a fluid deposition system for
distributing cleaning fluid (water, detergent, etc.) onto the
surface being cleaned. The fluid deposition system includes a tank
112 to hold the cleaning fluid, a sprayer 114 that is positioned
and oriented to distribute the fluid in the desired direction, a
pump and/or valve assembly 116 to control the fluid flow, and a
trigger 118 that is operated by the user to activate the pump/valve
assembly 116. The details of such fluid deposition systems are
known in the art, and need not be described herein. Examples of
suitable fluid deposition systems include, for example, those shown
in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,888,006; 6,659,670; 6,960,042; 6,692,172;
6,722,806; 7,004,658; 7,048,458; 7,160,044; 7,172,099; and
7,850,384, which are incorporated herein by reference. Without
excluding other options, the inventors believe that the system
shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,960,042 is expected to be particularly
useful to provide simple and effective fluid deposition. In this
embodiment, the fluid deposition system comprises a pump 116 that
is fluidly connected to the tank 112 to receive the cleaning fluid,
and a sprayer 114 that is fluidly connected to the pump 116 to
receive pressurized fluid and deposit the fluid onto the surface to
be cleaned. Fluid connections may be made by hoses or rigid
passages formed in the handle housing. The pump 116 may be a simple
plunger pump that is operated by a trigger 118 located at the grip
106 via a linkage that extends down the length of the handle 104.
The tank 112 may be removable for refilling or replacement, or
fixed and refilled in place. The foregoing features and variations
are well-known in the art, and need not be described herein.
It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made to
the foregoing embodiment. For example, the fluid deposition system
may be omitted to provide a simple flat mop. As another example,
the fluid deposition system may be modified by placing the sprayer
114 or other parts, such as the tank 112, on the base plate 102. As
yet another example, a heater 120 may be added in the fluid lines
(or to the tank 112) to heat the liquid and/or convert the liquid
into steam prior to deposition on the surface being cleaned. As
still another example, a vacuum system (i.e., a vacuum suction fan
and motor, and associated dirt receptacle), may be added to the mop
100. An example of such a system is shown, in conjunction with an
optional steam generator, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,571,421, which is
incorporated herein by reference. Other variations and
modifications will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the
art in view of the present disclosure.
The base plate 102 comprises a generally flat lower surface 122
that faces the floor or other surface during use. If desired, the
lower surface 122 may have grooves or an arched shape (as viewed
from the longitudinal direction 400 and/or lateral direction 126)
to help distribute forces across the lower surface 122, or other
features that may be useful to enhance cleaning (e.g., steam
outlets).
The base plate 102 is configured as a scrubbing head by including
one or more features to scrub the underlying floor. For example,
the lower surface 122 may include an integral cleaning member, such
as permanently-affixed bristles or the like. Alternatively, the
base plate 102 may be equipped with a replaceable cleaning pad 124.
A replaceable pad 124 may comprise a nonwoven material, a woven
fabric, or any other suitable cleaning medium. The pad 124 may be
connected to the base plate 102 by hook-and-loop fasteners,
adhesives, press-in fittings, wrapping portions of the pad 124
around the base plate 102, and so on. Non-limiting examples of pad
materials and mechanisms for attaching the pad to the base plate
102 are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,031,673; 6,003,191;
6,305,046; 6,716,805; 6,692,172; 7,350,257; 7,721,381, and
8,464,391, which are incorporated herein by reference. In one
exemplary embodiment, the pad 124 comprises a reusable and washable
pad comprising one or more woven fabric layers, and the top of the
pad 124 and lower surface 122 of the base plate 102 have
complementary hook-and-loop fasteners that releasably join the two
together during use. In other embodiments, the pad 124 may be a
disposable, nonwoven pad.
Referring now also to FIG. 2, the base plate 102 preferably is
elongated in a lateral direction 126, so that the full lateral
width of the base plate 102 passes across the surface being cleaned
128 during each forward and backward stroke. The base plate 102
comprises a rigid central region 130, and flexible end regions 132
extending laterally from each lateral end of the rigid central
region 130. In the shown embodiment, there are two flexible end
regions 132, but in other embodiments one of the flexible end
regions 132 may be omitted and replaced by a continuation of the
rigid central region 130 or other structures.
The rigid central region 130 comprises a rigid housing or structure
that preferably does not appreciably flex during normal operation
of the mop 100. Suitable materials include metals (e.g., aluminum,
steel or magnesium), or plastics (e.g., acrylonitrile butadiene
styrene (ABS), polycarbonates, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride
(PVC), or the like). Conventional materials and constructions may
be used to form the rigid central region 130. The rigid central
region 130 may have any width (i.e., the dimension in the lateral
direction 126), but in one embodiment the width of the rigid
central region 130 is about 200 millimeters, and the overall width
of the complete base plate 102 is about 400 millimeters.
Each flexible end region 132 preferably comprises a flexing region
134 located proximal to the rigid central region 130, and a
stepping region 136 located at the free end of the flexible end
region 132 and distally from the rigid central region 130. The
stepping regions 136 preferably are located at the lateral ends of
the base plate 102, but this is not strictly required in all
embodiments.
Each flexing region 134 preferably comprises a flexible elastic
material that has the ability to flex and then return to its
original unflexed position. Examples of suitable materials include
elastomeric polymers, such as natural rubber (which may be
vulcanized or otherwise processed), synthetic rubber (e.g.,
styrene-butadiene, butyl rubber, etc.), thermoplastic elastomers
("TPE," such as thermoplastic polyurethanes), silicone, and the
like. While elastomeric materials are preferred for the embodiment
of FIG. 1, the flexing regions 134 alternatively may comprise a
thin metal sheet or regular thermoplastics or structural plastics
that are modified to make them highly flexible (e.g., by making
them very thin or including perforations or other
stiffness-reducing structural modifications). An inboard edge of
each flexing region 134 is connected to the rigid central region
130 by fasteners, adhesives, overmolding, friction fitments,
combinations of the foregoing, or other mechanisms known in the
art. Each flexing region 134 extends in the lateral direction 126
away from the rigid central region 130 to an outboard edge at which
the stepping region 136 is connected to the flexing region. The
terms "inboard" and "outboard" will be understood to refer to
positions relative to a centerline of the base plate 102 in the
longitudinal direction (i.e., the direction perpendicular to the
lateral direction 126 and parallel with the surface being cleaned
128 when the base plate 102 lies thereon), with "inboard" being
closer to the centerline, and "outboard" being further from the
centerline.
The flexing regions 134 are configured to allow vertical movement
of the stepping regions 136 during normal operation of the mop 100.
Also, as described in more detail below, the flexing regions 134
also allow the stepping regions 136 to be pressed downward into the
surface being cleaned 128 by a force from the user's foot, without
significantly distributing the force across a large area of the
base plate 102. The flexing regions may have any suitable width
(i.e., the dimension in the lateral direction 126), but in one
embodiment the width is at least about 25 millimeters, and in
another embodiment the width is about 50 millimeters.
The stiffness of the flexing regions 134 may be selected by
appropriate material selection and engineering of the shape and
dimensions of the flexing regions 134. For example, the flexing
regions 134 may comprise a natural or synthetic rubber having a
thickness (i.e., the dimension in the vertical direction 140
perpendicular to the surface 128 being cleaned when the base plate
102 is lying on the surface 128) of about 4 millimeters to about 20
millimeters.
The flexing regions 134 also may include grooves or openings to
modify their flexibility or to provide other functions. For
example, in one preferred embodiment, each flexing region 134 may
comprise a plurality of slots 138 that extend from the stepping
region 136 towards the rigid central region 130. These slots 138
divide the flexing regions 134 into a plurality of ribs 142 that
join the rigid central region 130 to the stepping regions 136. This
arrangement of slots 138 is expected to reduce the resistance of
the flexing regions 134 to flexing in the vertical direction 140.
Furthermore, using a number of slots or other openings is expected
to be more advantageous than using a single large opening, because
the ribs 142 or other structures between the openings provide a
number of locations along the length (i.e., the dimension in the
longitudinal direction 400) of the flexing region 134 to abut and
press downward on the underlying pad 124. If the flexing region 134
has openings, it is preferred that there are a sufficient number of
ribs 142 to abut the cleaning pad 124 at three or more locations
along the length of the flexing region 134 (or the width, in the
case of FIG. 8), but providing more locations (i.e., 4 or more) is
more preferred. It will be appreciated that, in some embodiments,
contact between the ribs 142 and the pad 124 may not be continuous
during operation of the mop 100, but rather may occur only when the
flexing region 134 is flexed, such as shown in FIG. 6.
Other embodiments may use other patterns of ribs and openings
through the flexing regions 134, such as a grid pattern of square
or circular openings, or a random-appearing arrangement of
openings, or the like, to provide the desired flexibility while
still providing a generally continuous structure to press down on
the cleaning pad 124. Still other embodiments may use cutouts at
the edges of the flexing region 134, so that the openings are
shaped like notches along the front, back or side edges of the
flexing region. Furthermore, while the shown ribs 142 are straight,
the ribs 142 may be curved or have irregular shapes (see, e.g., the
hourglass-shaped ribs 804 in FIG. 8).
In embodiments of flexing regions that are unapertured (i.e., that
do not have openings), the flexing region 134 may abut the cleaning
pad 124 continuously along the length of the flexing region 134.
Alternatively, the flexing region 134 may have contours or cutouts
that cause the flexing region 134 to contact the cleaning pad 124
at a limited number of locations along its length. Other variations
and modifications will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in
the art in view of the present disclosure.
Although the foregoing use of multiple openings (or no openings) is
preferred to ensure a better distribution of downward force on the
pad 124, other embodiments may use a single large opening. In such
embodiments, however, the area within the opening will not contain
any structure to press down on the pad 124, which may reduce
cleaning effectiveness under the flexing region 134.
The stepping regions 136 are connected to the outboard edge of each
respective flexing region 134. Such connection may be made by
integral forming, fasteners, adhesives, overmolding, friction
fitments, combinations of the foregoing, or other mechanisms known
in the art. The stepping regions 136 are configured and dimensioned
to be stepped on by the foot of the mop user to apply an increased
local cleaning force beneath the stepping region 136. While it is
not required in all embodiments, the stepping regions 136
preferably are at least somewhat less flexible than the flexing
regions 134, to help transfer the user-applied force to the
underlying surface 128. For example, the stepping regions 136 may
be constructed of the same material as the flexing regions 134, but
made thicker to increase their stiffness relative to the flexing
regions 134. As another example, the stepping regions 136 may be
made of the same material as the flexing regions 134, but the
flexing regions 134 may include openings, such as described above,
to render the flexing regions 134 more flexible than the stepping
regions 136. In this embodiment, the flexible end regions 132 may
comprise a generally homogenous molded part, with the difference
between the flexing regions 134 and stepping regions 136 being
primarily that the flexing regions 134 include one or more
openings. As still another example, the stepping regions 136 may
comprise the same material as the flexing regions 134, but be
reinforced using an internal or external base plate or rigid
material. The stepping regions 136 also may be formed of materials
that are different from the flexing regions 134; for example, they
may be formed entirely of rigid materials such as those described
above in relation to the rigid central region 130 or other
materials.
The stepping regions 136 may comprise generally solid portions of
the flexible end regions 132 that are shaped and sized to be easily
depressed by a user's foot without risk of misplacing the foot. To
this end, each stepping region preferably comprises a generally
flat upper surface 401 (FIG. 5) that is at least about 30 mm wide
(as measured in the lateral direction 126), and more preferably at
least about 40 mm wide, and at least about 30 mm long (as measured
in the longitudinal direction 400), and more preferably at least
about 40 mm long. A generally flat surface is preferred to make the
application of force simpler and to prevent the user's foot from
twisting as force is applied, but a flat surface is not strictly
required in all embodiments. The bottom of each stepping region 136
also preferably is a flat surface 402 (FIG. 5). The use of flat
surfaces is not strictly necessary, but it is expected to be
helpful to provide a stable platform for the user's foot. Each
stepping region 136 also may include an embossed or printed image
of a foot 144 (the foot may be illustrated as a shoe (as shown), or
bare, or otherwise depicted) to visually instruct the user how to
use the device.
The pad 124 extends across the entire lower surface 122 of the base
plate 102, to lie below the rigid central region 130 and the
flexible end regions 132. The pad 124 may be connected to the
bottom of each stepping region 136 by hook-and-loop fasteners or
other connection mechanisms. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the
pad 124 may comprise a number of "loop" elements 200 of a
hook-and-loop fastener system, and a number of "hook" elements 202
of the hook-and-loop fastener system may be connected to the lower
surface 122 of the base plate 102 at locations to connect with the
"loops" on the pad 124. In this embodiment, at least some of the
hook-and-loop connections are provided between the rigid central
region 130 and the pad 124, and each flexible end region 132 may be
connected to the pad 124 by a respective hook-and-loop connection.
In other embodiments, there may be no connections between the pad
124 and the flexible end regions 132, which may be desirable to
allow large deflections of the flexible end regions 132. It is also
envisioned that the pad 124 may only be connected to the flexible
end regions 132 and not to the rigid central region 130.
FIG. 3 is a top view of one lateral end of an exemplary base plate
102. In this embodiment, the flexing regions 134 comprise parallel
slots 138 that divide the flexing region into parallel ribs 142.
The slots 138 may be parallel with the lateral direction 126, but
more preferably are angled (i.e., at a non-zero angle) relative to
the lateral direction 126, such as shown. For example, in the shown
embodiment, the parallel slots 138 are all angled forward, such
that each slot opening's distal end 300 (i.e., the end furthest
from the joint 110) is in front of each slot opening's proximal end
302 (i.e., the end closest to the joint 110). The forward angle
.theta. preferably is between 2.degree. and 45.degree., but other
angles may be used.
The use of forward-angled slots 138 may provide beneficial dynamics
to the operation of the mop 100. In particular, the angled slots
138 may tend to resist deformation when the base plate 102 is moved
forward, and may tend to permit deformation when the base plate 102
is moved backwards. FIG. 4 illustrates the exemplary base plate 102
of FIG. 3 as it is being pulled backwards in the longitudinal
direction 400, as shown by Arrow A. As the base plate 102 moves,
friction between the surface 128 and the bottom of the pad 124 acts
in a direction, shown by Arrow B, that is opposite the direction of
movement (Arrow A). This friction pulls on the stepping regions
136, which causes them to flex forward relative to the rigid
central region 130. This movement may reduce the amount of drag
experienced by the user as the base plate 102 is pulled backwards,
to reduce fatigue.
During the forward stroke, the angled slots 138--and, more
particularly, the forward-angled ribs 142 that form the structure
of the flexing region 134--are expected to resist deformation and
prevent the stepping regions 136 from moving backwards relative to
the rigid central region 130. As shown in FIG. 5, during this
motion, the user typically generates a motive force M to move the
base plate 102 forward, and this motive force M is resisted by a
friction force F generated in the plane of the surface 128. In a
normal mop that has a rigid base plate, it is expected that this
friction force will be distributed over a large area of the pad
124. However in the shown embodiment, it is believed that the
flexing regions 134, acting in concert with the friction force F,
may cause the stepping regions 136 to tilt downward so that the
leading edge 404 of each stepping region 136 presses down against
the surface 128, while the trailing edge 406 may lift slightly.
This may help generate a concentrated vertical force at the front
of each stepping region 136 to help enhance cleaning at those
locations.
It will be appreciated that the foregoing description of certain
theories of operation are provided merely as non-binding
explanations of the dynamics of the exemplary embodiment. The
invention is not intended to be bound to any particular dynamic
operation or theory of operation. Furthermore, while the use of
forward-angled slots 138 is described above as part of the flexing
region 134, it will be appreciated that such slots 138 are not
strictly necessary in all embodiments.
Referring to FIG. 6, in some embodiments, the flexible end regions
132 may be sufficiently flexible to allow the stepping regions 136
(and possibly the flexing regions 134) to flex upwards to press the
pad 124 against baseboards 600, walls, or other upright or vertical
objects. In these embodiments, it may be helpful to form the
flexing region 134 as a solid part (i.e., to exclude slots or other
openings), or to provide slots 138 having multiple ribs 142 to
press the cleaning pad 124 into the corner between the baseboard
600 and the floor surface 128. If cleaning of upright objects is
particularly desired, the flexing regions 134 may be formed with
one or more notches on the upper surface that extend in the
longitudinal direction 400, to provide hinge-like connections that
can fold around a small radius. This may help position the pad 124
as far into the corner as possible.
As will be apparent from FIG. 6, it may be necessary or desirable
for the cleaning pad 124 to flex upwards with the flexible end
regions 132. To this end, the cleaning pad 124 may include
stretchable regions comprising elastic materials, or may comprise a
loose fibrous weave that permits sufficient stretching to move with
the base plate 102 through its desired range of movement.
Alternatively, the connections that joint the cleaning pad 124 to
the base plate 102 may provide the necessary movement, or, where
only small amounts of deflection are desired, it may not be
necessary to make any specific accommodation to account for the
movement of the flexible end regions 132. The embodiment of FIG. 6
shows a relatively significant degree of movement, and it will be
appreciated that this amount of movement may not be necessary or
desirable in all embodiments.
A mop 100 such as described above may be used generally as a
conventional floor mop to clean lightly-soiled floors. However,
when the user encounters a patch of stubborn dirt 700, the user can
generate a highly-concentrated cleaning force to remove the
stubborn dirt simply by placing one of the stepping regions 136
over the dirt, stepping on the stepping region 136, and moving the
base plate 102 back and forth using the user's foot. An example of
this operation is illustrated in FIG. 7. When performing this
operation, the flexing region 134 allows the stepping region 136 to
move somewhat independently of the rigid central region 130 of the
base plate 130. For example, the flexing region 134 can pivot
downwards (towards the surface 128) relative to the rigid central
region 130 about a first longitudinal axis 146, while the stepping
region pivots upwards relative to the flexing region 134 about a
second longitudinal axis 148 that is spaced from the first
longitudinal axis 146 (see FIG. 1). (The first and second
longitudinal axes 146, 148 are parallel, but this is not required
in all embodiments). Since the rigid central region 130 and
stepping region 136 can rotate somewhat independently on the
flexing region 134, forces applied to the stepping region 136 are
effectively decoupled from the rigid central region 130. Thus, the
force applied by the user on the stepping region 136 does not
significantly spread across the entire base plate 102, and instead
generates a localized high scrubbing force (i.e., high force per
unit area) directly beneath the stepping region 136. FIG. 7 shows
the base plate 102 having unapertured flexing regions 134 (i.e.,
there are no holes through them), but the same operation would be
used to operate a mop 100, such as shown in FIG. 1, that has an
apertured flexing region 134.
This is expected to provide significantly improved concentrated
cleaning results as compared to attempting the same technique using
a conventional mop base plate. Conventional base plates generally
comprise a single unitary rigid structure, structures that might
move relative to one another, but not allow the ends to bend
downwards relative to the rest of the base (e.g., telescoping end
pieces), or structures that have a single rigid end plate that
pivots on the central plate. Stepping on one end of a conventional
base plate such as these results in the force being distributed
across the width of the base. Even in mops with pivoting end
plates, it is believed that the use of conventional "piano" hinges
makes it difficult to effectively isolate forces applied at the end
plate from the rest of the base plate because they rigidly hold the
two plates along the pivot axis, and such rigid hinges may not
survive vigorous applications of force. As a result, it is believed
that the construction of conventional devices reduces or prevents
the generation of a localized concentration of force that may be
necessary or desirable to clean a stubborn patch of dirt. In
addition to providing a capability not found in conventional rigid
base plates, the foregoing operation is quick, simple and
intuitive, and should not interrupt the normal process of mopping
the floor. Furthermore, using a device as described above can
eliminate or greatly reduce the need for the user to bend over to
manually scrub stubborn dirt off the floor by hand.
Persons of ordinary skill in the art reading the present disclosure
will appreciate that the foregoing exemplary embodiments may be
modified in a number of ways. For example, the single cleaning pad
124 could be replaced by multiple pads, with one pad under the
rigid central region 130 and separate pads under the flexible end
regions 132. The flexible end regions 132 also could use different
cleaning elements than the rigid central region 130 (e.g., brushes
instead of a replaceable pad). As another example, the rigid
central region 130, flexing regions 134 and stepping regions 136
may be molded as an integral elastomeric material, and the rigid
central region 130 (and the stepping regions 136, if desired) may
be reinforced or structurally modified (e.g., thickened) to provide
additional stiffness relative to the flexing regions 134.
As another example, shown in FIG. 8, the flexible end regions 132
may be replaced by a flexing region 800 and stepping region 802
that extend from the back edge of the base plate 102. The
construction of this embodiment may otherwise be the same as
described elsewhere herein, but the pad 124 may be reshaped to
cover the entire base plate 102 and the flexing region 800 and
stepping region 802. In still other embodiments, the flexing region
and stepping region may extend from the front edge of the base
plate 102.
In still other embodiments, the flexing region may be replaced by a
rigid link 900, as shown in FIG. 9. The link 900 is pivotally
connected at an inboard edge to the rigid central region 130 by a
first hinge, and is pivotally connected at an outboard edge to the
stepping region 136 by a second hinge. Simple piano hinges or the
like could be used to make these connections. The link 900 also
could include one or more resilient members (e.g., springs or the
like) to bias the linkage 900, rigid central region 130 and
stepping regions 136 into a planar configuration for use as a
normal floor mop. The exemplary embodiment of FIG. 9 would be used
like the foregoing embodiments, but in this case the two pivoting
connections provided by the link 900 allow the stepping region 136
to move substantially independently of rigid central region 130 so
that a user can apply a concentrated cleaning force by stepping on
the stepping region 136.
As noted above, the flexing regions 134 may comprise openings
having a variety of shapes. FIGS. 10A-10F illustrate alternative
embodiments having different exemplary shapes for the openings. In
FIG. 10A, the openings 1000 comprise a honeycomb pattern to form a
hexagonal pattern of interconnected ribs 1002. This pattern can be
replaced by another regular two-dimensional arrangement of shapes
(e.g., square openings to form a rectilinear grid of ribs) in other
embodiments. FIG. 10B shows the openings 1004 in the form of
trapezoids, and variations on this embodiment may comprise rhombus,
parallelogram or other quadrilateral shapes. FIG. 10C shows the
openings 1006 as a random or pseud-random arrangement of circular
openings, but other ovoid or curved shapes may be used. The
embodiment of FIG. 10C also shows openings 1008 formed in the front
and rear edges of the flexing region 134. FIG. 10D shows an
embodiment having two large square openings 1010 that leave three
ribs 1012 joining the stepping region 126 to the rigid central
region 130. FIG. 10E shows a single opening 1014 having two
complete ribs 1016 joining the stepping region 136 to the rigid
central region 130, and a one or more partial ribs 1018 extending
into the opening 1014. The partial ribs 1018 may be helpful to
press downward on the cleaning pad 124 when the flexing region 134
is in a deformed state, such as shown in FIG. 6. Such partial ribs
1018 may be used in other embodiments, as well. FIG. 10F shows
another example in which the flexing region 134 is joined to the
rigid central region 130 along a line 1020 that is not
perpendicular to the lateral direction 126, and not parallel to the
longitudinal fore-aft direction 400. In this embodiment, the
flexing region 134 would tend to pivot about the axis of the
connecting line 1020, which may be helpful to allow the stepping
region 136 to lift up during contact with obstacles. Other
embodiments may use other opening shapes, use a variety of opening
shapes, or omit them entirely.
In each of the embodiments having openings in the flexing region
134, the stepping region 136 is connected to the rigid central
region 130 by a plurality of flexible connecting webs. The shapes
of the openings and webs can be modified for various purposes. For
example, as described in relation to FIGS. 3 and 4, the shapes may
be selected to promote deformation in the plane of the floor
surface some movements, but not during other movements. Other
purposes (e.g., uniform deformation during forward and backward
strokes or increased deformation along the lateral axis 126) may be
obtained using other designs. These and other variations are
contemplated by this disclosure, and other variations and
modifications will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the
art in view of the present disclosure.
It will also be appreciated that the openings may be replaced, in
whole or in part, by cutouts (e.g., grooves, divots or the like)
that do not pass entirely through the flexing region 134. The
foregoing embodiments relating to openings are all suitable for
modification by replacing the opening with a cutout having the same
or a similar shape, and other variations and modifications will be
apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the
present disclosure.
Embodiments as described herein (or other embodiments) also may
include features to help distribute the cleaning force applied by
the base plate 102 across the full width of the base plated 102.
Referring to FIG. 11, in one embodiment, lower surface 122 of the
base plate 102 may have an arched profile in the lateral direction
126. In this embodiment, pressing the base plate 102 flat against
the underlying surface causes the flexible end regions 132 to flex
upwards to lie flat on the surface. This generates tension along
the lower surface 122 of the base plate 102 that tends to
distribute a greater downward force towards the flexible end
regions 132 than might otherwise exist if the base plate 102 was
flat to start with. The arched profile may be provided by curving
some or all of the parts. For example, the rigid central region
130, flexing regions 134 and stepping regions 136 all may be formed
with a downward curve. Alternatively, only the flexing regions 134
may be curved downward. Other variations and modifications will be
apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the
present disclosure.
In an alternative embodiment, such as shown in FIG. 12, the base
plate 102 is provided with a downward arch to pre-stress the
flexible end regions 132 via the cleaning pad 124. In this
embodiment, the cleaning pad 124 is connected to each lateral end
of the base plate 102 by pockets 1200 that wrap around part or all
of each stepping region 136. The cleaning pad 124 is dimensioned so
that the flexible end regions 132 must be bowed downward to install
the pockets 1200 over the stepping regions 136. The cleaning pad
124 may include flexible materials or comprise a compliant
structure that allows is to lie flat when the base plate 102 is
pressed into the surface being cleaned. It should also be
appreciated that it is not strictly necessary in all embodiments
for the flexible end regions 132 to be allowed to flex upwards
relative to the rigid central region 130 (i.e., they may only flex
downwards), in which case the cleaning pad 124 may be designed so
that the pockets 1200 prohibit further upward movement once the
flexible end regions 132 are horizontal with the rigid central
region 130. In other embodiments, other connections may be provided
between the cleaning pad 124 and the base plate 102 to provide a
pre-stressed arrangement such as shown in FIG. 12.
Aspects of the foregoing embodiments are generally directed to a
base plate 102 that decouples a downward force applied to the
stepping region 136 from the rigid central region 130, in order to
allow a user to apply a concentrated cleaning force by stepping on
the stepping region 130. While the foregoing embodiments use a
flexible end region to provide this decoupling effect, it is
anticipated that other configurations may provide the same benefit.
One example of an alternative embodiment is shown in FIGS. 13 and
14.
FIGS. 13 and 14 show one lateral end of a base plate 102 that is
provided with a decoupled concentrated cleaning step 1300. In this
embodiment, the base plate 102 is rigid across its entire lateral
width, and the step 1300 is mounted to the base plate 102 such that
it can move up and down relative to the base plate 102 when stepped
on by a user. In this example, the step 1300 is mounted in an
opening 1400 such that it can move a short distance in the vertical
direction 140 relative to the base plate 102. For example, the step
1300 may have a shaft 1400 that is configured to slide in a
corresponding opening 1402, and an upper flange 1404 and lower
flange 1406 that are larger than the opening 1402 to capture the
step 1300 in place. A spring 1408 biases the step 1300 upwards. The
spring 1408 may comprise an elastomeric material (such as described
above), or any other suitable resilient structure, such as a metal
wire spring or the like.
The upper flange 1404 preferably is shaped and sized to be easily
pressed by a user's foot, and may include a symbolic or textual
instruction for its use. The lower flange 1406 may include a pad of
fastening material 1410 to connect to the cleaning pad 124. The
lower flange 1406 also may fit into a recess 1412 on the bottom of
the base plate 102, to allow it to lie flush with the rest of the
lower surface 122.
The step 1300 may be mounted on a rotatable shaft, to allow a user
to twist the step 1300 relative to the base plate 102. In this
case, the step 1300 or base plate 102 may include a visual
indicator 1302 instructing the user that the step 1300 may be
twisted back and forth to help clean stubborn dirt. In this
embodiment, it may be particularly desirable to provide a feature
to cause the underlying portion of the cleaning pad 124 to twist
along with the step 1300. For example, as noted above, the step
1300 may include a pad of fastening material 1410 (e.g.,
hook-and-loop material) that mates with a corresponding surface or
connector on the cleaning pad 124 to provide a firm connection at
this point. Alternatively, or in addition, short prongs may extend
down from the step 1300 into the cleaning pad 124. The cleaning pad
124 also may be connected or configured to allow movement at this
location. For example, the cleaning pad 124 may have a loose region
of material that allows twisting with the step 1300, or the nearest
adjacent connection between the base plate 102 and the cleaning pad
124 may be relatively remote from the fastening material 1410 on
the bottom of the step 1300.
The embodiment of FIGS. 13 and 14 may be modified to provide a
different cleaning pad (or other cleaning feature) below the step
1300. For example, FIG. 15 shows one alternative embodiment in
which the cleaning pad 124 is modified so that it does not cover
the bottom of the step 1300. The cleaning pad 124 may have an
opening that surrounds the bottom of the step 1300, or it may stop
short of the step 1300 in the lateral direction 126, or it may be
otherwise configured. In this embodiment, the lower flange 1406 may
comprise a supplemental cleaning pad 1500 that faces the surface.
The supplemental cleaning pad 1500 may contact the surface during
normal operation (i.e., when the step 1300 is not depressed), or it
may lift out of contact with the surface. In either event, when the
user applies pressure to the step 1300, the supplemental cleaning
pad 1500 applies a greater force to the surface for increased
localized scrubbing. The supplemental cleaning pad 1500 may
comprise a separate removable pad that identical in general
construction to the main cleaning pad 124, or it may have different
properties. For example, the supplemental cleaning pad 1500 may
comprise a coarser surface than the main cleaning pad 124, or
abrasive materials, to provide more aggressive scrubbing.
The supplemental cleaning pad 1500 may comprise a cleaning
solution, detergent, or other chemical treatment, to enhance
cleaning. Such a chemical treatment may be provided on the surface
of the supplemental cleaning pad 1500 (e.g., a layer of
mildly-abrasive sodium bicarbonate particles on the surface of a
sponge, cloth, or non-woven pad), in encapsulated form to be
released upon the application or pressure, or simply as a liquid
saturating the material of the supplemental cleaning pad 1500. The
step 1300 also may be configured to cooperate with a pump or valve
that deposits a cleaning liquid onto the top of the supplemental
cleaning pad 1500 or directly on the surface when the user
depresses the step 1300. For example, the step 1300 may be located
adjacent a pinch valve that normally blocks flow from the tank 112,
but that opens when contacted by the upper flange 1404 to allow
fluid to pass to the surface by gravitational flow. Such valves are
known in the art and need not be described here.
The supplemental cleaning pad 1500 may comprise a removable pad, or
a permanently-affixed structure. If it is provided as a removable
pad, it may be releasably connected to the bottom of the step 1300
by hook-and-loop fasteners 1502, adhesives, or the like. A
permanently-affixed structure may comprise a sponge, a bristle
brush that extends downward from the bottom of the step 1300, or
the like. Combinations of structures (e.g., a bristle brush that
surrounds a removable pad) also may be used. Other variations and
modifications will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the
art in view of the present disclosure.
The step 1300 also may include a textured surface or other surface
features that provide a gripping surface to help the user apply a
twisting force to rotate the step 1300. If a visual indicator 1302
is provided, it may be configured as a gripping surface. In other
embodiments, the top of the step 1300 may include a gripping
surface 1504, such as saw-tooth ridges (see FIG. 15), short spikes,
raised ribs, a knurled surface, an abrasive material, or the like.
Other variations of gripping surfaces will be apparent in view of
the present disclosure. For example, the step 1300 may be located
anywhere along the base plate 102, instead of being located at a
lateral end, and multiple steps 1300 may be provided (e.g., one at
each lateral end of the base plate 102).
Embodiments of the present invention may be used in conjunction
with any suitable mop. For example, features as described above may
be integrated into existing mop models, either as new designs, or
as a retrofit kit. Other embodiments may be combined with features
described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.
14/035,455, now abandoned; and 14/035,472, now abandoned, which are
incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure describes a number of new, useful and
nonobvious features and/or combinations of features that may be
used alone or together. The embodiments described herein are all
exemplary, and are not intended to limit the scope of the
inventions. It will be appreciated that the inventions described
herein can be modified and adapted in various and equivalent ways,
and all such modifications and adaptations are intended to be
included in the scope of this disclosure and the appended
claims.
* * * * *